Reviews by wiseguy142:

I always like amber lagers.. I don't know why. Especially when you're not talking Oktoberfests/Vienna lagers.. these things seem to always pop up as gems in smaller breweries.

Pours a hazy dark amber... sort of like a pumpkin past its prime. Thin head with average lacing pretty gone within a minute after pouring. Very hazy but with some mysterious bubbles moving up through the middle.

Aroma is very light.. any smoke flavor seems to blend in with the amber very well, but a nice complex amber aroma up front.

Taste is a little tame, but a nice semi-sweet lager. I feel like I'm describing a wine. Smoke flavor is far in the back backing up the amber flavor. Fruity around the edges. Definitely let down in terms of smoke flavor but I'm enjoying it. Mouthfeel is a hit as is drinkability, because it's a nice easy drinking, flavorful lager which is why I like this style. We used to get kegs of Rohrbach's Amber Lager in college and it was always a treat. Not sure if this is what they were going for here. I think there could be a nice imperial version of this in the making in my basement at some point... (1,114 characters)

More User Reviews:

Poured into a standard pint glass a deep amber/brown with almost no head to speak of,smoke is light in the nose but is there along with some light chocolate and a little of a sour component.Again light smoke flavors up front with ahefty carame and chocolate sweetness melding into a touch of earth and lingering smoke again in the finish.Its ok but a little light handed with the smoke not bad but not one to go out and look for. (429 characters)

A very nice little beer. Mild smoke character but adding interest and well integrated. Surprisingly sweet on the finish but just pulls it off. Medium to light bodied, slick and well done mouthfeel. I would appreciate a little more spritz both in the glass and the mouth but not worth a ding. Bready in the middle, smoky up front, and a sweet linger on the finish. The way the savory aspect of the smoke wonderfully dissipates into this balancing sweetness is really nice. Some caramel in the nose and honey in the mouth. Probably the lightest smoke smoked beer Ive ever had but an enjoyable drink. Cheers to Ft Collins and Andrew for the sample. Drinkability is great for a smoked lager. (687 characters)

The Smokin' Lager poured a cloudy copper-red with a lot of tiny floating particulates. It had a huge light tan head the had great retention.

It's aroma was caramel malt and smokiness.

It had a big sweet, caramel malt backbone with some smokiness on top and a smoky aftertaste. There was not as much smokiness as I was expecting, I think the Double Z was more pronounced from what I remember. It did have a nice balance between the sweet and smoke. It was a little on the thin side.

Overall, this was similar to a lot of FCB's offerings (sweet and smoky and a little thin). (581 characters)

After looking at some other reviews I am wondering if I got a really bad batch, but this was easily the worst beer I have ever had. Poured a clear copper color with little to no head and no noticable lacing. Smell is like cigarettes and carmel malts. Taste is really bad. I would describe it as something like cigarettes and iced tea. I could barely manage a few sips before it met the drain. (392 characters)

From a 32 ounce bottle/growler filled at DeCiccios in Ardsley, NY. Pours dark, ruby/blood orange tinged, amber, minor head and just a smidge of lace. Seems to be on the low carbonation side of things. Moderate smoke in the nose. Pleasantly malty brew, noticable, but fairly restrained levels of smoke. Complexity is enjoyable and this one would likely go well with some BBQ. Nothing amazing, but pleasant enough smoke up offering, worth a try for those with a taste for a smike infused, easy drinking lager. (507 characters)

Drinkability: While not a bad beer, this one was a bit of a disappointment. The smoky taste is there, but the finish is harsh. I may have this again, but I think there are way better in the style. (544 characters)

So far gotta love the Fort Collins lineup, these beers are excellent. I kept on passing on them for the longest time. They definitely need a rep in the Burgh these beer has potential to sell. Anyways, this smoked lager pours a beautiful amber ruby hue with a light off white cream colored head. Lacing is even and covers the edges of my chalice like a blancket between each sip. A great nose of mild smoked malts, with slightly charred wood and smoke bacon at the minimal. Herbal hops also play nicely with the smoked malt additions, classically American style. Flavor has a great round edge of smokiness with sweet amber and caramel malt lager characteristics again hop flavor comes through as herbal, yet the flavor that finishes the beer is the smoked malt kickin' through. Like an American version of Spezial Ruachbier, great stuff. It's not going to kick compared to an scherlenkerla bier but it's sweet to taste the German influences in American micros. Mouthfeel is a fuller bodied lager, soft carbonation with lingering smoked wood and lightly salted smoked meat components. Drinkability overall is wonderful a beer that I'm proud to represent every time I try to remember my Z beer in the alphabetical list in the database. (1,232 characters)

Pours a slightly dark amber color with a 1.5-finger off-white head. The head recedes into a wispy layer on top leaving light lacing.

Smells of mild smoked malts with a good bit of caramel malt sweetness. As the beer warms the caramel malt aromas intensify.

Tastes very similar to how it smells. Smoked malt flavors up front segue into sweet caramel malts with just a hint of nondescript fruits. The ending is mildly bitter and the sweetness lingers more than the smoke.

Mouthfeel is good. It has a solid thickness with moderate carbonation.

Drinkability is good. I didn't have a problem finishing the glass although I'm not so sure about another.

Overall this was definitely in the bottom half of rauchbiers I've had however it may be a good gateway beer for those not so sure about smoked malt. (871 characters)

(Served in a dimple mug) A- This beer has a slightly dense dark copper body with a yellowish antique white head that last for a good bid. There is a good carbonation of big bubbles that glide to the surface. S- The rich caramel malt aroma has some Munich malt note in the finish. T- The nice caramel sweet malt is quickly overpowered by plastic band-aid that wrap up my tongue and the full flavor of latex gloves finishes the beer and lingers. M- This beer has a medium mouthfeel with a flat texture and a soft fizz finish. D- This beer is undrinkable with a great nose, and a nice malt flavor buried under the awful peat smoke/chlorine phenol quality. I love rauchbiers and this is not one. It is to harsh to drink. (721 characters)

This brew pours out a deep amber/copper color. A small white head maintains an above-average retention with some spotty lacing remaining on the glass.The smell is of a sturdy malt and obvious smoky tones that are strong without being overdone. It's more of a woody smoke like mesquite. This isn't much of the charcoal harshness in the aroma, and it's all backed by a leafy hops note.The taste follows suit with a bit more caramel sweetness evident on the tongue, adding for a nice balance. The hops lingers underneath the strong malt and smoky undertones, making for a well-balanced sip and a dry finish.The body is medium and the carbonation is pretty moderate. Each sip starts of with just a bit of a nip and smooths out a bit.This is a solid brew, and an interesting idea to make a rauchbier out of an amber lager rather than a darker, sturdier brew, but it works well here. (916 characters)

I thought I was just going to be drinking a lager...and don't really care for many lagers at all.
I opened this bottle because I needed about a half of a bottle of beer to put in a marrinade for a chicken I am doing for dinner tonight.
WOW...what a perfect addition that was and what a great meal it is going to make.
Pours an orange amber with a half finger head that melts to a surprisingly sticky lacing.
Aroma is definately toasted malt.
Taste is an incredible smooth caramel malt that melts to a smokey goodness as you swallow.
Mouthfeel is creamy and smooth with just a hint of the carbonation.
Aftertaste...duh....smoke? Yeah...definately.
I haven't had this in a lager before and have to say it is wonderful.
Suddenly a lager that works both with a meal or as a desert (to say nothing of what it would do with cheese.)
Good stuff. (848 characters)

In the mood for a rauchbier as the seasons change, I found a pleasant surprise, as Shop-Rite Liquors added the Fort Collins brewery to its shelves...translucent brownish orange body with a white, thin yet resilient head upon a cascade of bubbles--quite lively...wicked cedar smoke to the aroma, reminiscent of a smokepit summer night...toasted something is present too...medium bodied, with a swift start to finish and a familiar smokey end on the back of the tongue...aggressive on the sides of the tongue, but subsiding quickly...a well-balanced taste, not dominating in any aspect...not sweet, but substantial...I have not heard much of this brewery, but I enjoyed sessioning this and imagine pairing it with grilled foods in the summer and spicier fare all year round.... (775 characters)

This beer has a most definitive taste to it, the smokiness in the flavor tastes almost like smoked meat. It has a nice dark amber color and has decent mouthfeel. But that taste and the smell associated with it can easily put off the unprepared drinker. If you know what you're looking for, than it's a great beer, as my friend comments. If not, then it's best you skip this one. (378 characters)

Clear copper with a modest cap of blanched yellow.
Nose of Beechwood smoke hallmarks, grilled meats and dry wood, with a nod towards pipe smoke. Caramel whifts, and dry leaves underneath.
Begins with a persuasive and delicious malt base, oozing with toasted marshmallows. Honeyed graham crackers as well. Factor in the smoke and this is only the chocolate short of a liquid S'mores. Smoke enters next, but it's not the dripping roasted pork fat of Aecht Schlenkerla, here, it's more akin to cedar planks, fragrant tobacco, and dried venison. The hops arrive at the close, as the smoke fades, and add an earthy, leafy bitterness.
Medium in body, with a lively carbonation. This is built as a drinker, edged with smoke instead of drowned in it. As much as I enjoy the full strength rauchiness, this is a beautiful, restrained example. Incredibly food frendly. (861 characters)